Building block



Oct. 11, 1955 F. M. CAMERON 2,720,104

BUILDING BLOCK Filed Jan. 11, 1952 FIG. I. 3 l6 4 5 3 L l8 l7 131* I 23,13 l6 1s 25 l H l2 |3 l5 "'2 FIG. 8.

l9 l2 l9 H 20 INVENTOR C5 20 d FRANK M. CAMERON l8 2 \5 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent BUILDING BLOCK Frank M. Cameron, Danville, Ill. Application January 11, 1952, Serial No. 265,991 3 Claims. (CI. 72-29 This invention relates to building blocks, and more particularly to masonry building blocks of the interlocking type. p

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved masonry building block which is simple in construction, which is provided with keying means so that a plurality of blocks may be interlocked in vertically stacked relationship, and which is arranged so that the mortar joints between adjacent blocks are substantially concealed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved masonry building block which is inexpensive to fabricate, which is neat in appearance, and whichprovides a substantially flush surface when a plurality of blocks are laid to form a wall or similar structure, the blocks being arranged so that seepage of moisture therebetween will not result in damage to the structure when the moisture freezes.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a series of building blocks according to the present invention laid end to end.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a plurality of rows of building blocks such as those shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of one of the blocks of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the block of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the block of Figures 6 and 7.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 6, 7 and 8, a preferred form of building block according to this invention is designated generally at 11. The block 11 comprises a substantially rectangular body having a forward portion 12 and a rear portion 13 equal in height to the forward portion 12 but reduced in length symmetrically at the ends thereof relative to forward portion 12, as shown at 14, 14. Designated at 15 is a longitudinal V-shaped rib which is integrally formed along the inner longitudinal margin on the top surface of the forward portion 12 of the block, and designated at 16, 16 are respective transversely extending V-shaped ribs integrally formed on the top surface of the rear portion 13, said ribs 16, 16 being symmetrically spaced relative to the transverse vertical central plane of the block and merging with the longitudinal rib 15, as shown. The rear portion 13 of the block is formed centrally thereof with a rectangular recess 17 which is bordered by the transverse ribs 16, 16 and the longitudinal rib 16, and centrally of said recess 17 the rear portion 13 is formed with the vertiice cal bore 18. The forward portion 12 of the block is formed adjacent its ends with the cylindrical recesses 19, 19 opening at the bottom surface of the: block. The bottom surface of the inner marginal portion of the longer block portion 12 is formed with the V-shaped longitudinal groove 20 which is in vertical registry with the longitudinal rib 15 on the top surface of said forward portion 12, and the bottom surface of the shorter portion 13 of the block is formed with the transversely extending V-shaped grooves 21, 21 which are respectively in vertical registry with the V-shaped ribs 16, 16 on the top surface of said portion 13.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blocks 11 may be laid in end to end relationship with their ends in abutment, and the blocks may be stacked vertically with the ribs 15 and 16 of the lower blocks received in the grooves 20 and 21 of the blocks superimposed thereon. The mortar, shown at 22, is introduced between the blocks through the recesses 22 and bores 13, said bores 18 of the superimposed blocks being in vertical registry and communicating with the recesses 22, as shown in Figure 3. Additional mortar, shown at 23, is introduced between the ends of the shorter portions 13 of adjacent blocks, as shown in Figure 1. It will be apparent from Figure 3 that the mortar 22 in the recesses 17 and bores 18 forms a solid mass rigidly keying the vertically superimposed blocks together and the mortar 23 between the ends of the shorter portions 13 of adjacent blocks forms additional bonding means rigidly connecting the blocks.

It will be further noted that the forward portions 12 of the superimposed blocks come together to define substantially continuous front surfaces, and similarly, the vertical edges of said forward portions abut closely, so that the resulting structure defined by the blocks appear to be substantially continuous.

In the event that moisture seeps in between adjacent blocks, said moisture will collect in the recesses 19, instead of penetrating completely through the blocks, and when the moisture freezes, the expansion thereof will take place in the recesses 19 rather than between the blocks, whereby the wall structure defined by the blocks will not be damaged because of the freezing and thawing of said moisture.

It will be further apparent that the blocks are selfaligning because of the interlocking cooperation of the ribs 15 and 16 with the grooves 20 and 21, whereby the blocks may be readily and accurately laid by relative unskilled personnel.

While a specific embodiment of an improved masonry building block has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A building block of the type described comprising a substantially rectangular body, an elongated longitudinal rib extending from end to end of said body and projecting upwardly above one major horizontal surface of said body and located intermediate the front and back sides thereof, a plurality of spaced transverse ribs extending between said longitudinal rib and said back side of said body, said transverse ribs projecting upwardly from said one major horizontal surface of said body, said body having a mortar-receiving recess formed therein and extending downwardly below said one major horizontal surface and inwardly from said back side of said body between an adjacent pair of said transverse ribs and that portion of said longitudinal rib extending therebetween, said body having a transverse passage formed therein communicating at its upper end with said recess and at its lower end' with the plane of a second majorhorizontal"surface', and said' body having a plurality of grooves formed therein and extending inwardly from said second, major horizontal surface, said lastnamed" grooves correspondinglin number to the number. ofsai d'wibs' andbeing;,vertically and horizontally aligned. therewith.v

22, A" building block ofthetype described comprising a substantially rectangular. body, an elongated longitudinal ribextendingfrorn endlto' end ofsaid body and projecting" upwardly above one major horizontal surface of said body and lo'catedintermediate the front and back sides thereof, a plurality of spacedEtransverse ribs extending between saidlongitudinal rib andsaid back side of'said body, said transverse ribs projecting upwardly from said'one major horizontal surfaceofsaid body, said body having a mortar-receiving recess formed'therein and extending downwardly' below saidione major horizontal surface and inwardly from said back side of said body between an adjacent pair of said transverse ribs and that portion of said longitudinal rib extending therebetween, said body havinga transverse passage formed therein communicating a1 its upper end'with said recess and at its lower end with the plane of'a second major horizontal surface, said body having a plurality of grooves formed therein and extending inwardly from said second major horizontal surface, saidfl'ast-named grooves corresponding in number to the number ofsaid ribs and being vertically and horizontally" aligned therewith, and said body portion having a mortar-receiving recess extending inwardly from each end thereof. between said longitudinal rib, its corresponding groove and back side of said body.

3. A building block of the type described comprising a substantially rectangular body, an elongated longitudinalrib extending. from end to end of said body and projecting'upwardly above one major horizontal surface of said' body-and located'intennediate the front and back sides-thereof, a plurality of spaced transverse ribs extending between said longitudinal rib and said back side of saidbody, saidt'ransverse ribs projecting upwardly from said one major horizontal surface of said body, said body having a mortar-receiving recess formed therein and extending downwardly below said one major horizontal surface and inwardly from said back side of said body between an adjacent pair of said transverse ribs and that portion of said longitudinaltrib extending therebetween, said body having atransverse: passage formed therein communicating at its upper end with said recess and at its lower end with a'planecof a. seoond majorhorizontal surface, said body having a. plurality of grooves-formed therein andextending inwardly from said'second'major horizontal surface; said, lastnamed, grooves corresponding in number to the number of said ribs and being vertically and horizontally aligned therewith, said body portion having a mortar-receiving recess extending inwardly from each end thereof between said .longitudinalrib, its correspondinggrooveand back side of "said body, and said body having a recess extending inwardly from'said second horizontal surface and positioned adjacenteaclr end" thereof intermediate said longitudinal rib and the front sideof'said body.

References" Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

